Associate Connections Director

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

We are looking for an Associate Connections Director (Paid Media) to join our team to lead media planning and buying efforts across a variety of clients.

Responsibilities:

• Embody and support the vision and strategic direction of the VMLY&R connections department
• Be part of account leadership teams along with client engagement, creative and planning representatives
• Manage the flow of client media-related issues. Create solutions and resolve problems.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with VMLY&R connections clients
• Establish timetables for development of plans
• Interview applicants and hire candidates for more junior-level positions
• Coach and lead your direct reports and manage their performance Media Planning
• Embody VMLY&R’s integrated connections planning approach, working closely with the
  
  
  

creative team to drive innovative, effective ideas that meet our audience where they live

• Develop media plans that support the client’s marketing objectives
• Continually reinforce the behaviors of the consumer in the integrated idea development process
• Empower the innovative ideas by bringing appropriate new media technologies and capabilities
• to the ideation conversation
• Supervise implementation of integrating offerings and tools
• Identify opportunities for content partnerships and multi-platform media partnerships, when
• appropriate
• Create media plan recommendations and alternatives
• Select media vehicles and determine scheduling
• Analyze competitive activity in the marketplace
• Present media plans to clients
• Work with the analytics team to develop a measurement framework for the campaign
• Work with the analytics team to measure media performance while in market, make recommendations for optimization
• Develop recap reporting to understand and document final campaign performance against goals and any critical learnings
• Ensure media plans execute as planned and approved, on schedule and non budget
• Regularly meet with media and industry reps to develop and maintain expertise on the technologies and capabilities available in the market that our teams can leverag
  
  
  

Required Skills

• 7+ years of experience with media planning, agency and/or client experience
  
  
  

Digital media planning and buying experience (e.g. display, online video, programmatic, native, influencer marketing, Print/OOH planning and buying experience, TV/Video experience)

• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead across multi-office internal agency environment and multi-agency external client engagements
  
  
  

Strong experience and integration with research/planning and analytics/measurement/optimization

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Adept at using media research and planning tools to determine audience size, create proformas, determine audience attributes, etc.
• Demonstrated success with client relationships, team management and media planning
  
  
  

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $75,000 to $180,000 . Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click here for more details.

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP . For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

When you click the "Submit Application" button below, this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

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$75,000—$180,000 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.